Petite, energetic actress who graduated from lightweight television roles such as Gidget (1965) and The Flying Nun (1967) to Academy-Award-winning leads in Norma Rae (1979) and Places in the Heart (1984). In recent years, Field has continued to work in a range of lead and supporting roles, including parts in Forrest Gump (1994) and Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), and took on a new role, as director, with Beautiful (2000).